Tooting-based Shelina Permalloo grew up in Southampton where she was inspired to cook by her mother and aunt who made traditional Mauritian food. In 2011 she gave up a career in diversity and equality, then entered and later won the MasterChef competition which was watched by nearly six million TV viewers. Permalloo, whose cooking is made up of spices, intense flavours and lots of mango-based recipes, has since cooked at the BBC Good Food Shows and around the country. Next year she plans to open her own Mauritian restaurant and her new cookbook, Sunshine On A Plate is published this week. Here she tells us where she likes to eat out in London.

SILK ROAD, Camberwell

Why do you go there? It's an amazingly unpretentious regional Chinese restaurant based in Camberwell serving Sichuan food. The food is incredible with a crazy amount of chilli and numbing Sichuan peppercorns - perfect food sensations and really powerful. The dumplings are just to die for and they also serve offal skewers.

What do you eat there? Pork and leek dumplings, and chilli cabbage.

Who do you take? Friends who can handle the heat!

Find it: 49 Camberwell Church Street, SE5 8TR; 020 7703 4832

MEZA, Tooting

Why do you go there? I love the fact it only has 14 covers and is packed all the time. Meza serves really delicious Lebanese food, cold and hot dishes in a mezze style dining experience and the restaurant is fresh, authentic and lively.

What do you eat there? Shish Taouk, baba ganouj, tibbeh.

Who do you take? Perfect for a romantic night... I reckon it's a good first date kind of place!

Why? This great pub on the banks of The River Thames offers alfresco BBQ food as soon as temperatures are up to 14 degrees. I love BBQs, they are delicious, simple and great for big crowds of friends for get togethers. Their restaurant menu is also lovely, seasonal and fresh.

What do you eat there? Shepherds pie, burger or sticky toffee pudding - not all in one sitting.

Who do you take? A group of friends for a get together.

Find it: 41 Jews Row; SW18 1TB; theship.co.uk

Sunshine on a Plate by Shelina Permalloo is published on June 20 (£20, Ebury Press)